Travel guide · Israel
Jerusalem travel guide
A walled Old City sacred to three faiths, with markets and museums beyond
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: askii, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and its walled Old City — under one square kilometre, divided into the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian quarters — holds the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif with the Dome of the Rock. Outside the 16th-century Ottoman walls are the Mount of Olives, the Israel Museum with the Dead Sea Scrolls, Yad Vashem and the Mahane Yehuda market. The city sits about 750 metres up in the Judean Hills, so evenings are cooler than on the coast, and the Dead Sea, Masada and Bethlehem are all close. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–November.
Key facts
- Country
- Israel
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–November
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- TLV
- Mid-range daily budget
- $180–$320 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Old City, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Dome of the Rock
Why visit Jerusalem
- Within a 10-minute walk of each other in the Old City are the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock.
- The Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book displays Dead Sea Scrolls, and its outdoor model recreates Jerusalem as it looked in the late Second Temple period.
- The Mount of Olives viewpoint gives the classic panorama over the golden Dome of the Rock and the walls.
- Mahane Yehuda market is a food destination by day and a bar street by night.
- Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea are about 1.5–2 hours away by road, and Tel Aviv about 35 minutes by train.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Religious site · Old City
Western Wall
The Western Wall is a surviving retaining wall of the Herodian Temple Mount and the holiest place where Jews pray.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
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Religious site · Christian Quarter
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Built over the sites venerated as Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus, this church is shared by several Christian denominations, including the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
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Religious site · Old City
Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock
The raised esplanade, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, holds the gold-domed Dome of the Rock, completed in 691–692, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Street · Muslim Quarter
Via Dolorosa
The traditional route of Jesus's final walk runs from near Lions' Gate through the Muslim and Christian quarters to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marked by fourteen Stations of the Cross.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Givat Ram
Israel Museum
Israel's largest museum covers archaeology from prehistory to the Ottoman period, Jewish art and life, and fine art from Rembrandt to contemporary works.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
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Market · Nachlaot and Mahane Yehuda
Mahane Yehuda Market
Jerusalem's main market, known as the shuk, has around 250 stalls of produce, spices, halva, cheeses and baked goods between Jaffa Road and Agrippas Street.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
Where to stay
Old City is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for culture, budget and first-timers
Old City
Stone lanes, holy sites and pilgrim guesthouses inside the walls
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples, first-timers and shopping
Mamilla and Jaffa Gate
Luxury hotels and an open-air shopping avenue just outside the walls
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, solo travellers and shopping
City Centre
Ben Yehuda and Jaffa Road cafés, the light rail and mid-range hotels
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and budget
Nachlaot and Mahane Yehuda
Courtyard lanes, tiny synagogues and the city's liveliest market
What to eat
- Hummus — Warm, freshly made hummus with olive oil, whole chickpeas and pita is a lunchtime staple; many places serve it with ful or mushrooms and close once the day's batch runs out.
- Jerusalem mixed grill — Chicken hearts, spleen and liver with onions and spices, fried on a flat-top griddle and stuffed into pita; a late-night dish closely associated with the city.
- Ka'ak al-Quds — Long oval rings of bread coated in sesame, sold from carts with a twist of za'atar or with eggs and falafel, often eaten on the go in the morning.
- Knafeh — Soft white cheese under a layer of shredded or semolina pastry, baked in large trays, soaked in syrup and topped with pistachios, served warm by weight.
- Kubbeh soup — Semolina dumplings stuffed with minced meat, simmered in a sour beetroot, pumpkin or lemony vegetable broth; a Kurdish and Iraqi Jewish dish that is a Jerusalem lunchtime favourite.
- Jerusalem kugel — A baked noodle pudding that is both caramel-sweet and black-pepper hot, traditionally eaten on Shabbat in the city's Ashkenazi communities.
When to go
The best times to visit Jerusalem are April to June and September to November, when days are warm and dry and evenings are pleasant. Easter and Passover are the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year, while winter is cool and rainy but quiet. Check the dates of Jewish holidays and Ramadan, which affect opening and transport.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Wildflowers, comfortable temperatures and the peak pilgrim season around Easter and Passover, when rooms are scarce. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, sunny days and cool evenings at altitude; festivals and long evenings, but midday heat in the Old City. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm and dry into October, with the Jewish High Holy Days and Sukkot; rain returns in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cool, wet and sometimes cold, with occasional snow; few crowds and Christmas celebrations in the Christian Quarter. |
Getting there and around
Ben Gurion Airport is about 50 km west. Fast trains reach Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon station in about 20–25 minutes, except on Shabbat; shared sherut minibuses and taxis run from the arrivals hall and take about 45–60 minutes depending on traffic.
The Old City is explored on foot only, and most central sights are within a 30-minute walk. The light rail Red Line runs along Jaffa Road past the Old City to Mount Herzl, buses cover the rest, and fast trains link the city with Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Old City's main holy sites, the Ramparts Walk and the Mount of Olives. Four days adds the Israel Museum, Yad Vashem, Mahane Yehuda and Ein Karem, and a fifth allows a day trip to Masada and the Dead Sea or to Bethlehem.
Practical information
- Currency
- ILS
- Language
- Hebrew, Arabic and English
- Plugs
- Type H and Type C sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; carry water in summer, especially in the Old City.
- Emergency number
- 100 police, 101 ambulance, 102 fire
- Tipping
- In restaurants a tip of around 10–15% is customary if service is not included; round up for taxis and tip guides at the end of a tour.
Check your own government's travel advice before and during your trip, as the security situation in the region can change, and follow instructions from local authorities; expect security checks at holy sites. Day to day, watch for pickpockets in crowded Old City lanes and for slippery polished limestone.
Flights to Jerusalem
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Jerusalem?
Two days covers the Old City's main holy sites, the Ramparts Walk and the Mount of Olives. Four days adds the Israel Museum, Yad Vashem, Mahane Yehuda and Ein Karem, and a fifth allows a day trip to Masada and the Dead Sea or to Bethlehem. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Jerusalem?
The best times to visit Jerusalem are April to June and September to November, when days are warm and dry and evenings are pleasant. Easter and Passover are the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year, while winter is cool and rainy but quiet. Check the dates of Jewish holidays and Ramadan, which affect opening and transport.
+What is Jerusalem known for?
Old City, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dome of the Rock, Israel Museum, Mahane Yehuda market and Pilgrimage. Within a 10-minute walk of each other in the Old City are the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock.
+Is Jerusalem expensive?
Jerusalem is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $180–$320 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Jerusalem?
No. A car is a burden in the Old City and centre. Hire one only for Masada, the Dead Sea or the Galilee, and check your rental terms before driving into the West Bank.